Visitors to the ITGA Yearbook Conference Centre were welcomed by Show Director, David Wilkinson and ITGA Chairman, Brendan Lacey.

The Forestry Show was officially opened by Charles Flanagan, TD

CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS FRIDAY 10th MAY

The All-Ireland Roundwood Forecast – Wood from our Forests

Presentation by Henry Phillips

Ireland’s forest sector is a success story and a significant employer. It comprises a vibrant forest products sector, with state-of-the-art boardmills and sawmills, exporting a high
proportion of product output. Considerable potential exists to expand production; half of the forest estate is less than 25 years old. Any future increase in roundwood supply will be dependent upon volume coming from the private sector in the Republic of Ireland. The All-Ireland forecast collates future volumes from both state and private sector sources and provides a reliable basis to plan expansion of the forest products and wood energy sectors.

Presentation by Ken Bucke, Forest Service, Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine

Chalara fraxinea, known as Ash dieback disease, is a newly described fungal disease. The disease has spread rapidly
across much of Europe, with most European countries where Ash is present now reporting the disease. The disease can affect Ash trees of any age and in any setting. Death of the trees can occur, with younger trees (less than 10 years old) succumbing more rapidly. Plants for planting that are imported from other European countries are regarded as the highest risk pathway for spread into Ireland.The Department are taking a number of actions to eradicate the disease and the Department have also brought in legislation restricting Ash imports. It is important that everyone is on the look out for ash dieback that they are aware of the symptoms and
know what to do if they suspect the disease is present on their ash trees.

Current use of forest fuel for energy in Ireland is substantial, amounting to one-third of all wood harvested annually. Wood fuel is typically derived from small roundwood or residues of the wood processing sector. Increasing wood fuel production without displacing supply to existing markets will require new machinery and methods that are capable of sustainable, costeffective harvesting of whole small trees from thinning and
residues of clearfells. Different forest resources and supply chains will produce wood fuels of differing quality. It is important for energy producers to ensure that their fuel specifications match the available material.

Following the inclusion of a co-firing target for the peat-fired stations in the Government’s 2007 White Paper on Energy, Edenderry Station commenced co-firing with biomass in 2008.
The tonnages of biomass used at Edenderry Power have increased year-on-year to where 197,000 energy tonnes of biomass were consumed in 2012 and the company is well on target to achieving 300,000 energy tonnes by December 2015.
This paper outlines the rationale behind co-firing and the market
potential for forestry products at Edenderry Power plant from now to 2030.

Teagasc has established a number of thinning trials aimed at providing growers information about the impact of timing of thinning, effects of different thinning systems and thinning intensities on the growth and development of forest crops.
An analysis of different thinning systems and thinning grades indicates significant benefit to thinning early and heavily on productive sites. The age at which a target volume of 0.8 m3 can be achieved is discussed. It is possible that rotation ages could be as low as 25 years.

This Guide to the valuation of commercial plantations is intended to provide guidance to all involved and with an interest in the valuation of forest assets. It is limited in scope to the commercial aspects of forest management and does not
address 'values' which are not traded or recognised directly in the market place in Ireland e.g. landscape value, water quality, biodiversity or carbon sequestration. The Guide is divided into
sections which deal with (a) factors influencing value, (b) valuation methods, (c) revenues and costs, (d) forecasting volumes, (e) risk and (f) preparing a forest valuation.

Presentation by John Phelan, FCCA is Managing Director of Woodland Managers Limited, Galway
and Dermot Byrne, AITI, farmer, ITGA member and tax consultant.

Commercial forestry is a business. Many owners believe that forestry is tax exempt - based on the income tax exemption of profits from the occupation of commercial woodlands. That is a qualified exemption; there are five other taxes that can impact on forestry activity - and levies, charges and duties. Owners
need to consider tax when taking decisions. This presentation is about raising awareness

Eanna describes what it is like to live in a woodland habitat. Animals need food, places to shelter and sleep, and breeding places. Woodlands - particularly deciduous woodlands, provide these essentials for very many animals. In fact some can live nowhere else but in woodlands - such as jays, tree creepers,
woodpeckers, squirrels, pine marten, long eared owls and many more. Woodlands became very scarce in Ireland from the 1600's on and some birds that we think of as garden inhabitants were originally woodland birds - robins, blackbirds, wrens, thrushes, bluetits etc. Why are all our woodland flowers such as sorrel, anemones, primroses bluebells, garlic only around in Spring? Why so many mushrooms in the autumn? You will be an expert yourself on woodland wildlife after listening to Eanna holding forth and seeing the slides of woodland creatures that she has.

Eanna Ni Lamhna talking to a captivated audience at the 2013 Forestry Show

Chalara Ash Dieback - Symptoms and significance of the disease

Presentation by Seamus Dunne, Forest Service, Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine

Chalara fraxinea, known as Ash dieback disease, is a newly described fungal disease. The disease has spread rapidly across much of Europe, with most European countries where Ash is present now reporting the disease. The disease can affect Ash trees of any age and in any setting. Death of the trees can occur, with younger trees (less than 10 years old) succumbing more rapidly. Plants for planting that are imported from other European countries are regarded as the highest risk pathway for spread into Ireland. The Department are taking a number of actions to eradicate the disease and the Department have also brought in legislation restricting Ash imports. It is important that everyone is on the look out for ash dieback that they are aware of the symptoms and know what to do if they suspect the disease is present on their ash trees.

While a number of forest owners are aware of the growing need for certification, few private timber producers understand fully the processes involved and many are fearful of the possible added workload and costs to their forestry businesses that certification entails. In this presentation William Merivale, National Secretary of PEFC Ireland, will give a brief explanation of what forest management certification involves and how it works in practice, why it is necessary for increasing numbers of forest owners to actively consider it, and how to go about applying.

There are currently 26 Forest Owner Groups facilitated by Teagasc, consisting of more than 1,900 forest owners. Overall, there are approx. 10,000 forest owners with crops between the ages of 12- 22 years. Teagasc Forestry Development Department
actively promotes and facilitates these owner groups through advice and organisational support. The groups benefit from discussion, group thinning and business development. Many of these groups are also involved with Leader companies, IFA, Local Authorities, local wood energy supply companies, ITGA, etc.

Ruth will provide information on the history and current status of deer in Ireland. She will discuss the information available at present on deer in relation to commercial forestry in Ireland and describe how current research at UCC is targeting gaps in existing knowledge. Ruth will also outline how the findings of this research will be applied to management and practice.

Listed above are some of the Presentations made in the ITGA Conference Centre at the recent IFWShow in Stradbally, Co. Laois

This 'Research Projects on Display' leaflet contains background information on the various walk in displays in the ITGA Conference Centre during the two days of the IFWShow. These displays showcase a number of Research projects currently undertaken in Ireland.

For a report on this year's Irish Forestry, Woodland and BioEnergy Show by the Organisers, see www.ifwshow.ie.